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Wednesday, March 20, 2013

How to become a good IVF patient ?

If you are told that
you need IVF to conceive,you naturally tend to spend a lot of time and energy in
finding the best IVF doctor. This is
because you know that finding a good IVF doctor will help you in getting the
best treatment possible. You want a good IVF doctor who runs a competent clinic;
respects you and your needs; will be intelligent enough to tailor the treatment
according to your individual requirements ; and is empathetic enough to provide
emotional support during your time of distress.

This is quite
reasonable, but are you also willing to put in at least half the effort which you
took to find a good doctor in becoming a good IVF patient ? Many of us still naively
believe that, once we find a good doctor , our responsibility in our treatment gets
over , and the doctor will take care of all our needs. This is not true; getting the best treatment
possible and the ease with which you can go through an IVF treatment rests in
your hands too. Just like you expect your doctor to be competent, a
knowledgeable patient is a good IVF doctor’s delight ! If you learn to be an
ideal patient you can reap the best of your doctor and treatment. An ideal
patient makes an IVF doctor’s life much easier. Remember, good patients beget
good doctors , and vice versa !

How many of you go
to watch a movie without reading its review ? If you are willing to do your
homework before watching a movie, isn’t it wise to do your homework when
undergoing one of the most important and expensive medical treatments you will
need ? It is your responsibility to
understand what your treatment is all about , and how it works. The internet is a boon for patients who want
to learn more and there are many authentic websites and blogs written by IVF
specialists and IVF patients which will help you to get reliable information.
If you become a well-informed patient, you no longer have to be dependent on
your doctor for taking treatment decisions; you can work as an intelligent
partner with your doctor. This will increase your confidence levels, protect
you from medical fraud ( such as unnecessary tests and unproven treatments !) ;
and will also act as a shield to protect you against medical errors. If you are
a knowledgeable patient your doctor is much more likely to respect you and
treat you well.

Many patients tend
to think that they are not intelligent enough to understand medical science.
This is why they are afraid to ask their doctor questions, and prefer to bottle
these up, thinking that their questions are stupid. . The truth is that you do
not need special talents to understand how your body works - you just need to
be curious and ask questions. Never be afraid to ask questions; it is the duty
of your doctor to explain in terms which you can understand , and clarify all
your doubts. When talking to your doctor , make sure that you ask relevant
questions , and this can only be achieved if you have done your homework –
don’t expect him to spoonfeed you ! When you understand the science behind your
treatment , you will be able to understand what your doctor can do for you , and
what he cannot. Having realistic expectations of the treatment process will protect you from emotional breakdown if
the cycle fails; and will also safe-guard your doctor from your unreasonable
wrath if the treatment does not give the expected result.

Every patient wants her
doctor to remember her as a person. You want him to take special interest in your
treatment and work extra hard for your success. This can happen only when you
work together with your doctor , and show an intelligent interest in what he is
doing for you. You should understand that medical science is a rapidly growing
field , and there are many different treatment options. When you remain
passive, you put all the responsibility on your doctor and he is forced to
decide what is best for you. Even though a good doctor works for your best
interests, many a time they are biased too ( sometimes without even being aware of their personal prejudices) . They may
end up selecting a cookie cutter , generic treatment plan for you, without
customizing it to your special circumstances, because this is easier for your
doctor , and saves him valuable time. However, this puts you at a risk of
receiving sub-optimal treatment. On the other hand, when you understand the niceties
of your treatment , you can delight your doctor with your input and ideas, and he
is much more likely to understand your needs better. When you contribute to
your treatment decisions in an intelligent way, you are more likely to be able
to formulate a treatment plan which suits you best – after all, your doctor is
not a mind-reader and does not know what your personal preferences are.

A well-informed
patient understands that his doctor works for her best interests. If you are
totally clueless about your treatment , you will not be able to appreciate what
your doctor does for you. It’s only when you appreciate his technical skills
and expertise that you will develop respect for him as a professional .
Otherwise, you tend to treat him as a person who works for you only because of
the money you pay him . A good doctor-patient relationship is important for a
good treatment outcome. Like any relationship, a doctor-patient relationship is
also a two-way street and it tends to blossom beautifully only when there is mutual
trust and respect. A good patient understands this and is ready to do what he
can do to make the relationship beneficial for both.

A good IVF patient
is patient! She understands that IVF treatment might need more than few
attempts to be successful. She doesn’t get disheartened, suspicious and bitter
after a single IVF failure. She tends to value and respect her doctor’s advice
and act accordingly. This will help her to
remain resilient and carry on with the treatment until she finds success.

In short a good IVF
patient has the following characteristics :

She has the passion
to learn about her treatment

She actively
participates in her treatment decisions

She respects her doctor
and strives hard to maintain a good doctor-patient relationship

She engages the doctor
by providing inputs

She is patient and does
not expect that the only acceptable result is a baby !

She allows her
doctor to earn her trust and follows his advice

Successful IVF
treatment needs not only good doctors , but good patients too ! Once you select
a competent doctor , you need to work on making yourself competent. This work
will pay rich dividends ! The equation is
simple - Good IVF doctor plus Good IVF patient = High chances of IVF success !

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Disclaimer

Please note that I have no medical training or qualifications, and that the contents of this blog are thereof are opinions, not medical advice.

have medical training or qualifications, and that the contents thereof are opinions, not medical advice. - See more at: http://healthbeat.areavoices.com/2010/09/29/the-expert-patient/#sthash.YPxLA3EA.dpuf

have medical training or qualifications, and that the contents thereof are opinions, not medical advice. - See more at: http://healthbeat.areavoices.com/2010/09/29/the-expert-patient/#sthash.YPxLA3EA.dpufPlease note that I have no medical training or qualifications, and that the contents of this blog are thereof are opinions, not medical advice.

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I thrive on love and affection!

I am a 36 year old Indian woman, happily married for seven years. This blog captures the 7 year infertility journey we went through to have our daughter Anisha. I have to undergo7 IVF/ICSI cycles, three miscarriage (including a still birth where I lost my twins to incompetent cervix) and 3 FETs to have our little miracle in hand. This journey was excruciatingly painful at times yet shaped me in ways happy times wouldn't have. Looking back, I wonder about myself ! I feel proud that I was able to be sane and strong after so many IVFs and heartbreaking miscarriages. Now I am very happy and serene than if I would have had children without any problems ( a bit crazy too ! :) The secret is, infertility is a great teacher. It taught me to be strong, humble, resilient, rational, forgiving, empathizing and hopeful. BTW, I am a scientist by profession. I hold a doctorate degree in Human Biology and I believe my education has helped me to tackle infertility bravely. I would like to share my experience and knowledge which I gained during this happy struggle to meet our offspring with you all. If you could share with me your thoughts and experiences I will be very happy !